Blair condemns 'barbaric' attacks

Prime Minister Tony Blair today condemned the "barbaric" series of terrorist attacks which brought death and destruction to London.

In a statement at the G8 summit at Gleneagles, Mr Blair said it was "reasonably clear" that the string of explosions in the capital was the work of terrorists.

He said it was also clear that there were a number of casualties and fatalities.

Mr Blair said he would leave the summit within the next couple of hours to return to London to be briefed on events.

He said: "It is particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa, the long-term problems of climate change and the environment."

He said the attacks were "designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G8".

Mr Blair told reporters: "It is reasonably clear that there have been a series of terrorist attacks in London.

"There are obviously casualties, both people that have died and people seriously injured. And our thoughts and prayers of course are with the victims and their families.

"It is my intention to leave the G8 within the next couple of hours and go down to London and get a report face-to-face with the police and the emergency services and the ministers who have been dealing with this and then to return later this evening."

"It is the will of all the leaders of the G8 however that the meeting should continue in my absence, that we should continue to discuss the issues that we were going to discuss and reach the conclusions that we were going to reach."